Welcome to My Blog!
I pray that the words written here will enrich you, empower you, and encourage you to be all that God has destined and created you to be!
Welcome to Letrice's "Words of Life" Blog!
"The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63)
Learning the Value of Rest
REST. A small but powerful four-letter word that should be received with open arms. After all, as humans, we all need rest. In fact, according to an article published by INTEGRIS Health on April 4, 2021: “Rest is vital for better mental health, increased concentration and memory, a healthier immune system, reduced stress, improved mood and even a better metabolism.”
Rest should be seen as a good thing. Right? After all, even the God that created us rested. In Genesis 2:2: “…and on the seventh day God rested from all the work that he had done.” So, rest should be part of our daily routine.
Although I knew in my head that I needed rest, to be honest, in my heart, I was resisting it. Why? Because I always thought of resting as being unproductive, lazy and nothing that I thought was supposed to get done was getting done! Any “worker bees” out there with me? I had my to-do list of activities, and some were good activities, but was I taking the time I needed for me? So, first lesson: My attitude about rest needed to change!
Is your plate filled with stuff, and I’m not denying that some of it is good, but have you taken a moment to breathe, relax and listen for the still, small voice of your Father in the quiet? Or are you like I was, that even when I managed to squeeze in 5 or 10 minutes here and there, I couldn’t resist feeling guilty? Rest is not something we should feel guilty for receiving and making it part of our lives. Jesus knew that rest was vital to our souls. That’s why He told us in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Second lesson: Guilt has no place in rest!
The other lesson I had to learn was contrary to what I thought, there was work being done in the rest. I didn’t think so, but that’s because I wasn’t the one at work! (lol) God was. It’s in the stillness, that I believe God does His greatest work. If I could give you a penny for every time I saw, read, or heard Psalm 46:10 (“Be still and know that I am God…”), last year, you would be rich! After my mom’s unexpected passing last year, God took me into His “Resting Room” and as much as I tried to get out, I couldn’t. I had to learn to stay there so that He could do the much-need work on my heart (and it’s still a process), but I had to learn to let Him do it. Third lesson: I must be still so that God can work in the rest.
I encourage you wherever you are on your journey, take time to rest. Whether it’s taking a walk, going for a ride, listening to a worship song, taking a five-minute bathroom break at work or school, cutting off the TV or your phone for a while, being open to changing your plans or learning to say no, do it. Sometimes it’s not just our physical bodies that need rest, sometimes it’s our minds that need to “be still.”
I want to leave you with a few reminders as we learn to embrace and receive this small, but powerful four-letter word called, REST.
•Remind yourself that rest doesn’t mean you’re unproductive. A friend of mine told me recently that the Lord said to her, “Just because you’re busy doesn’t mean you’re being productive.” She said although she had several things going on, and thought that she was being productive, God showed her that none of them were being completed. So let’s learn to appreciate the value of rest so that God can complete the work He wants to do in us and through us.
•Remind yourself that you don’t have to feel guilty because you are resting. Don’t allow the enemy to cause you to beat yourself up because you are taking time for yourself. We can’t be effective or useful to anyone else if we are depleted. Take time to surrender more of yourself so that God can fill you with more of Him. And guess what? It’s OKAY!
•Remind yourself that God is working in the rest. Although you may not be able to “see” what He’s doing, trust that the Potter is at work, molding and shaping you into all He desires you to be! “If we sadly say to ourselves, “There is no music in a ‘rest,’” let us not forget “there is the making of music in it.” – Ruskin
Let’s dare to receive our rest!
The Gift of Access
"For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household..." - Ephesians 2:18-19
As children of the Most High God, our Father has granted us access to everything we need! We are no longer "on the outside looking in." We have been given the keys to access freedom, confidence, strength, wisdom, wholeness, and all that is needed to live the triumphant life the Father intended for us to live. What a privilege and an honor that we have been given such an amazing gift! It's nothing we did to earn it. It was all because of His great love for us! Take a moment now and reflect upon the fact that YOU have been given the gift of ACCESS! Then, take a moment and open your hands to receive it! It's yours! It's yours! Then, take the next moment to thank Him, for He is worthy of it all!
The Lord says:
I am removing the blockages and limitations so that I can make you aware of all that you have access to. I have given you access to everything you need. Everything you need is in me. There are no limits. Seek me for whatever you need. There are no limitations in me. I am the unlimited God and I give of myself freely - freely to those who ask of me. Seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all your heart. I am the God of unlimited possibilities and I give you access. Yes, you. Don't discount yourself another day or believe the lie that what I have is not for you but for someone else. I give you ACCESS today. Receive it!
I am taking the limits off of your minds today. What you thought you could never do, will suddenly become possible for you. What you thought was off-limits for you will suddenly become available for you. The doors you thought would never open for you will become open for you. I pour out my love and blessings upon each of you today. Receive my love. Receive the overflow. I make ways out of no ways and I bring to pass my word.
Go back and pull out the words I have spoken over you. Recall my promises. I watch over my word to perform it and it is not too late. I am the promise-maker and I am the promise-keeper. I have had to do a work in you to prepare you to receive it. I am bringing you into the truth of who I am and who you are in me. Nothing is off-limits for you because you have been given ACCESS.
Drink Deeply
As I asked the Lord what He wanted me to share this month, He simply said, “Don’t be afraid to drink deeply.” In fact, He beckons us to drink deeply. He is the well that never runs dry. He has an unlimited supply: an unlimited supply of mercies; an unlimited supply of grace; an unlimited supply of peace; an unlimited supply of strength; an unlimited supply of love that will never run out, fall short or disappoint. Why? Because He’s God and there’s nobody like Him! He has everything we need. He’s just waiting on us to come.
And when you come, don’t think you have to have it all together. Don’t think He will ask you to bring that which you don’t have. In fact, Isaiah declares:
“Listen! Are you thirsty for more? Come to the refreshing waters and drink. Even if you have no money, come, buy, and eat. Yes, come and buy all the wine and milk you desire— it won’t cost a thing.” (Isaiah 55:1 - The Passion Translation)
In other words, God doesn’t require you to bring anything outside of you to come to Him. The only thing He’s looking for is a soul who’s thirsty.
The only thing He requires is someone who knows they can’t do anything without Him; someone who knows that He is the only one who can satisfy the thirst within.
And as you draw from Him, He will give you what you need. What you’ve been trying to do on your own will now become easier because you have learned to stop striving within yourself and learned to start drawing from Him!
David said in Psalm 27:4, “One thing have I desired and that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord forever...” David understood the key to experiencing the “abundant life” that Jesus talked about in John 10. The key to living is found in our connection with the Father because HE is the living water. HE is the bread of life!
So I encourage you to drink deeply of Him and then come back and drink again and then again and again. Unlike a store that may run out because it only has a limited supply of an item and as a result, you may be turned away, our Father’s love has no end, and He will never turn you away. As Jesus was talking to the crowd in John 6:37, He said, “Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away.”
What an amazing promise! You and I will never be turned away! So drink deeply my friend, until you are not just full of Him, but overtaken by Him, and then keep coming until you’re caught up in the overflow!
I invite you to pray this prayer with me:
Father, I reaffirm my need and my desire for you. You alone are the one who satisfies and quenches my thirst. Forgive me for any time I've looked to anyone or anything else to give me what only you can give. I realize more and more as I live each day, just how frail I am and yet just how strong you are. I realize that it’s only in your presence that strength, peace, and satisfaction are found and so I desire to abide under the shadow of your wings. Thank you for never giving up on me and thank you that no matter how often I come to you, I can always take a drink. For you are the well that never runs dry. Thank you, Father. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)
Are You Resting in the Truth of
Who God Says You Are?
Resting in and knowing the truth of who we are in Christ equips us to fulfill our purpose.
Daniel 11:32 says: “…but the people that know their God shall be strong and do exploits.”
This verse declares:
The people that know their God - who have come into an understanding and intimate awareness of who God is and what He has said about them...
Shall be strong - they shall be built up and will no longer question, doubt, or second guess who they are, who lives in them, or the power they carry to change lives and as a result, they will…
Do exploits - they shall carry out the purpose to which they have been assigned since birth. Our lives are no longer about us because we belong to Him.
We have been created on purpose for the sole purpose of carrying out His purpose. But we cannot carry out our purpose if we don't have an assurance of who we are!
For instance, a lion can’t fulfill its purpose until it embraces and understands who it is. If it doesn’t understand who it is, it might try to be a pony, giraffe, or some other animal that it wasn’t created to be. Or it may be aware that it is a lion on the surface, but for some reason, it spends its whole life questioning and doubting its true identity on the inside. In either case, the sad part is that it will never fulfill the purpose for which it was created.
How many of us go through life wishing we had someone else’s life? How many of us waste so much time questioning and second-guessing who we are when the Creator has already said, you have been made in my image and created for my glory?
In other words, when God created you and me, He created us in His glorious image and in His remarkable likeness. I remember my grandma used to tell me, “When God made you, He didn’t make no junk!” That truth still rings true today.
It’s time that we step up to and agree with the truth of who God says we are. Any other narrative is...well, let’s just say a lie.
So my friends, let’s stop RESISTING the truth and start RESTING in it until it becomes the very essence of who we are.
I encourage you to tell yourself, It’s time to start RESTING in the TRUTH of who GOD says I am!
Receive it
Embrace it
Surrender to it
Trust in it
Internalize it
Never apologize for it
Go forward in it!
You Are Wanted
My birth was not an accident and neither was yours. The almighty God already planned and purposed you and me to be here.
Oftentimes though, a sense of abandonment and rejection can cause us to feel unwanted. But today, I believe the Lord wants to remind you and me, that We Are indeed WANTED!!!
It doesn't matter how you got here, what others have done or said, or even if you experienced the worst that rejection had to offer, it cannot compare to the truth. The truth that says, “...all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I'd even live one day.” (Psalm 139:16, MSG)
That means that not only did God have a purpose for my life but He intentionally put me here because He WANTED me here. He wrote out each day of our lives, not on accident but on purpose. He wanted us to know Him so much and receive His love so much, that He kept pursuing us and kept pursuing us until we would reach the point where we realized it doesn't matter what may have happened, GOD WANTS ME!!!
There is a difference when you do something out of obligation and when you do it because you want to. God didn’t pursue us because He had to. He pursued us because He chose to.
Sometimes my own family may not have wanted me. Sometimes my friends and those I thought were supposed to be there for me may not have wanted me. And that bitter sting of rejection can often cause us to paint a negative picture of ourselves and we can begin to think that “maybe I’m not wanted. And maybe I'm not good enough.”
But let me tell you, that’s simply not true!
And that’s why it’s so important that each of us ask the Father to help us open our hearts fully to Him, holding nothing back - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Because although there are many ways to receive healing, I believe our deepest healing comes as we allow the Spirit of God to go in and do surgery on our hearts. Why? Because God is the one who created us and He is the only one who truly knows the innermost parts of our being. And not only that, but He is the only one strong enough to heal and deliver us so that the effects of any abandonment or rejection we may have experienced can no longer hold us captive.
And let me be honest, coming into the reality that you’re not only a child of God but a WANTED child of God is a process. It is not overnight. But one thing I can tell you is that if you keep seeking the One who said in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you...”, He will meet you and heal you in the deepest places of your heart.
And if you stay there long enough, you’ll begin to hear the voice of our precious Heavenly Father say...”Let all the other voices fade away until the only voice you believe is the voice of truth. Let my love flood your heart until every wall that rejection has tried to build is torn down. Let me love you to the fullest until all you see is who I say you are.”
And who does God say you are?
God says...YOU ARE WANTED!
Every part of you - from the tip of your nose to the tips of your toes! He made you in His image and He loves every part.
I don't know if you've heard the song titled “Reckless Love,” but it reminds us that even before we uttered one word or took one breath, God was singing over us. The God who created everything from the tiniest ant to the most massive mountain rejoiced over us before we were even born! Let's think about that for a minute!
Because if the one who created me says I’m wanted. If the one who risked it all to save me says I’m wanted, then guess what? It’s TIME to tell yourself, “Girl, you are WANTED!!!!!!”
Be encouraged, my friends! YOU ARE WANTED!!!
You Have a Seat at the Table
We have been called to the Father’s table. Sometimes we question if we’re worthy to sit here; if we’re worthy of the Father's lavish love. Sometimes the enemy will cause us to doubt if we belong here. But it’s not anything we’ve done that got us here. It’s His love that drew us and set a seat aside just for us.
The Lord says, “I am removing the doubt. I’m removing the questioning as to whether or not you belong here. It was my precious blood that purchased your seat and I have declared from the beginning of time, 'Child you are mine.' For so long, you’ve tried to fit in, not really knowing where you belong. But it’s because I’ve designed you to sit here with me so that your identity and sense of worth could only be defined by me.
You are in the world but not of the world. I have drawn you to ME so that you would reflect my glory in the earth. Your place has been found. Your seat has been reserved. Access has been granted. Your restless soul has now found its home. For this is where you belong. And this is who you are - You are mine. Welcome home, my child. Welcome home."
"He placed me at his banquet table, for everyone to see that his banner over me declares his love." - Song of Solomon 2:4 (VOICE Translation)
"Consider the incredible love that the Father has shown us in allowing us to be called “children of God”—and that is not just what we are called, but what we are. Our heredity on the Godward side is no mere figure of speech—which explains why the world will no more recognise us than it recognised Christ."
- I John 3:1 (Phillips Translation)
It's Time to Stop Straddling and Start Stepping
Although I have been walking with Lord for a while, I am still learning to depend on Him. I know He wants me to come to Him for everything and that coming to Him can relieve so much anxiety, stress and pressure. But how many know, that knowing what you need to do is much different than doing what you know you need to do? I needed to translate my “knowing” into “doing.”
I thought I was there, but when the opportunity came for the “doing,” (the actual test of trusting God completely for areas like my family and my future), it exposed some stuff I still needed to work on. I realized the place of dependence is a “learned” place for me. It is a process because it required me to first “unlearn” some things from the place where I had always gravitated to - the place where I tried to trust in God and trust in myself at the same time.
I often found myself straddling the fence between these two places in my faith journey– the place of total dependence on God (what I call the “Faith Place”) and the place of self-reliance and leaning to my own understanding (what I call the “Safe Place”). I didn’t realize this was the cause of so much frustration in my walk with God. Could it be that somewhere on the inside, I still thought I knew more than God? Could it be that the fear of letting go was an invisible culprit that was still trying to hold me captive? I knew I loved God and wanted to trust Him with all my heart. Yet, inwardly, there was this struggle of wanting to stay in this “Safe Place” because at least this is where I “felt” like I was in control. Can anybody relate?
But the crazy thing is that although I felt safe and comfortable there, the “Safe Place” was a limited place. I could only do so much and go so far in this place because within myself, I realized how limited I really was– limited in my understanding, limited in my ability to bring anything to pass, limited in my ability to “fix” things and “fix” people (any wanna be “fixer uppers” out there?), limited to what I could see and feel – just plain limited!
But how grateful I am that my Father in heaven teaches me that He is a God who is not limited. As I spend time with the One who is not just the God of heaven and earth, but the One whose love is unconditional, He teaches me how to take one step at a time, into this place of faith, where I am learning to totally depend on Him. And as I do, He moves in ways I could have never imagined. As I began to discover this new place, I was reminded of this quote I heard recently which has helped me to push past the fear and I hope it encourages you as well: “Step out in fear by faith.” In other words, despite the fear that may seem to surround you on every side, keep moving by faith and trust in the faithfulness of the Almighty God.
Remind yourself that although I can’t see, He is faithful. Remind yourself that although I don’t know how this situation I am facing will work out, I trust that He is working out ALL things for my good!
Sometimes, the very thought of fully relying on God in the “Faith Place” can be a little scary because the “Safe Place” may be all you’ve ever known. Letting go of your plans, your dreams, how you thought things should go, and laying them at the Lord’s feet and allowing Him to take over is not easy. Trust me, I know! But I encourage you to keep stepping, even if it’s “one step at a time,” because when you do, you will find that in that place of surrender, your Heavenly Father is right there. He was just waiting on you to trust Him.
And rest assured, as you take that step, you will not fall because the “Faith Place” is where you will come to know that the almighty God is strong enough to hold you up. So during those times when you may find yourself on the fence between the “Safe Place” and the “Faith Place”, I encourage you to stop straddling and get to stepping because the “Faith Place” is actually the “Safest Place of All!”
“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms...”
– Deuteronomy 33:27
Prayer:
“Lord, it’s scary to step sometimes in the new and unfamiliar but when we do, we experience your divine presence, unlimited power and supernatural provision. God, help us to yield, to surrender and trust that you will exceed our expectation because that’s just who you are and what you do. We love you Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”
Chosen
Chosen vessels of honor
I chose you before the foundation of the world
I chose you before you were formed in your mother's womb
I chose you to sit at the King's table with me even before you knew there was a seat prepared for you
I chose you and called you by name
Vessels of honor to carry my glory
Vessels that have been refined by fire
I don't see as man sees
I look at the heart
When they ask who sent you, tell them your Father in heaven chose you, not because you were perfect but because I determined to set my love upon you
Don't ever doubt your worth because I have chosen you
Don't ever doubt your significance
Don't ever doubt my love for you
I have loved thee with an everlasting love
Chosen to show forth my glory; to represent my kingdom
Chosen to walk in the overflow
Chosen for victory
Chosen to worship
Chosen to overcome that which the enemy said you never would
My chosen ones, take your seat at the table
Your seat has been prepared for you since the beginning of time
Eat of me, drink of me. Taste and see that I am good
My kingdom come. My will be done on earth as it is heaven, through my chosen ones.
Vessels of honor that I have prepared "for such a time as this."
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light...” - I Peter 2:9
Transfer the Weight. It's Time to Soar!
As I was preparing for this month’s blog post, I had planned to post something else, but the Lord impressed upon me to share and expound on a teaching I did from our Women’s Sunday School class last Sunday. He gave me an acronym for the word Courage, and I wanted to share just a snippet with my blog audience. While I don’t have time to expound upon each letter, I will share the acronym He gave me and emphasize one of the letters for this blog post.
Confidence in God
Obedience to God
Understanding who God is
Reliance on God
Agreeing with God
Going forward in faith (truth) despite the fear
Expecting God to be with me
Many times, the Lord calls us to do things that are “beyond” our natural abilities and comfort zone and I believe it takes tremendous courage to step out and actually walk in that which He is calling us to do. I know for me; the plans and dreams God has for me sound so good on the surface but when I must put “feet to my faith,” those things seem to appear so far out of my reach. I don’t know about you, but I often fight with the thoughts in my mind that cause me to think I have to carry out this thing out on my own. This thought then leads to even more pressure because I realize I don’t have what I need within myself to do it. And then where does that lead me…nowhere but to a dead end. While I was meant to be traveling this journey of faith with God, somewhere along the way, I ended up by myself on the side of the road! Stuck. Why? Because I didn’t realize I can’t move forward one bit by trying to carry myself or those attached to me. This leads me to the letter of Courage I want to emphasize today and that is the letter “R” – Reliance on God. You see, the enemy of our souls wants us to think that often times dependence is a sign of weakness. And if you grew up anything like me, being independent and showing that you can carry the load and “do it all” was a sign of strength. Have you ever heard the saying, “Never let ‘em see you sweat?” And while we should not allow people to take advantage of us, that type of mentality can also cause us to carry things we were never designed to carry.
As believers, we must understand that God is our burden bearer. He is the one who said, “Casting all of your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” (I Peter 5:7) Some of us are carrying the weight of our families, our children, our spouses, our finances, our jobs, our ministry, our future. Some of us are carrying fear, anxiety and the pressure to perform. And while we may still be functioning on the outside, that internal pressure can eventually lead to an external breakdown. And so, as I shared with the class, God says that we must put our full weight on Him. In other words, you must “Transfer the Weight,” so you won’t fall trying to carry it!
As women especially, we tend to carry so much, but we must remember at the end of the day, our strength is found in our ability to lean, rest and rely upon the Lord. A plane can’t take off safely and have enough fuel to reach its destination if it’s too heavy because it is carrying extra luggage. The same with you and me. We won’t be able to fully reach our potential if we’re carrying too much weight.
It’s when we are able to transfer the weight, that God can empower us with His ability, His strength and His power to do that which we can not do on our own. It’s then that He can give us the ability to soar above our circumstances, our fears, our anxieties and all that would seek to hold us in place and keep us stuck. We were not meant to stay stuck. We were meant to soar!
So, I challenge you today to let go of all that you’ve been carrying. Psalm 138:8 says, “The Lord will perfect (complete) that which concerns me.” That means big or small, it’s all in His hands! I challenge you today to Transfer the Weight and allow God to give you the:
Supernatural
Overcoming
Ability to
Rise
When we are no longer weighted down on the inside, then we can experience the freedom to soar and rise above those things that sought to keep us locked in place. God’s word says that we are the head and not the tail; above only and not beneath. He’s called us to live an abundant life of purpose, but we can’t do that if we continue to allow ourselves to be weighed down under the pressure. We must remind ourselves that He has our back and that He is a God who can be trusted. He is the God who remains the same yesterday, today and forever. He knows our future. We don’t have to carry worry or fear around anymore because He’s already gone before us. He’s already told us in His word that His plans for us are good and not of evil, to give us a future and a hope, an expected end. (Jeremiah 29:11)
As one of my sisters shared in class, “It’s time to take the ‘I’ out of the equation” and let God be God!
I encourage you that if there’s anything you may be carrying, you must Transfer the Weight because It’s Time to Soar! It’s time to experience the supernatural move of God in our lives!
“So the angel explained that it was the following message of the LORD to Zerubbabel: I am the LORD All-Powerful. So don’t depend on your own power or strength, but on my Spirit.”
– Zechariah 4:6 (CEV)
Now That I Know
I didn’t know that what I had to offer was significant, so I dummied it down.
I didn’t know that I was fearfully and wonderfully made, so I hid among the shadows.
I didn’t know that my intelligence was a gift from God, so I played small in order to be accepted by those around me.
I didn’t know that I already had God’s stamp of approval, so I looked to others for validation.
I didn’t know my worth wasn’t tied to my performance and so I strived for perfection.
I didn’t know that the reason I didn’t like to take risks was because I was afraid to fail and at the same time, afraid to succeed, and so I played it safe.
I didn’t know that God had given me this life so that I could make an impact and allow my light to shine, so I dimmed the light I was given.
I didn’t know that there was greatness living on the inside of me and that I could live a life without limits. so I resigned myself to living in my self-made box and tried to make God fit there too.
I didn’t know that I was a King’s kid, so I didn’t think like one and therefore didn’t live like one either.
But I discovered along my journey that my ignorance was a trick of the enemy to get me to stay stuck and worst of all, it almost cost me my destiny.
I know now that the enemy of my soul actually feared who I would become... if I only knew.
And so now my question to you is, What do you know? Because what you don’t know can end up costing you more than you know.
I believe it’s time for some of us to stop walking in darkness, turn on the light and know some things.
-Know that what you have to offer is significant because your gifts and talents came from God.
-Know that you have been made in the image of God and you’ve been made beautiful in His sight.
-Know that you are smart and that’s nothing to apologize for.
-Know that you’ve been accepted by God so there’s no need to look for validation elsewhere.
-Know that you’ve been made worthy simply because God loves you, so there’s no place for performance or perfection.
-Know that fear is an enemy and didn’t come from God, so when it’s time to move, know that God won’t let you fall.
-Know that your life has meaning and God didn’t create you to hide. He created you to shine.
-Know that you’ve been called to greatness, so step outside the box that you’ve created so you can experience what’s been waiting for you on the other side.
-Know that you are royalty, so start thinking and acting like who you really are - A child of the most High God!
And now that you KNOW some things, it’s time to start LIVING like you KNOW!
“And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”
- John 8:32
Launching Out Into the Deep
"Lord, I want to go! Lord, I don't want to go! Lord, I'm ready! Wait. Lord, I don't think I'm ready!" So exciting, yet so scary. Have you ever been there? That place where you knew God was calling you higher and on one hand, you were excited, but yet there was a part of you that wanted to stay where you were? Although I know the only way to travel to another country and experience all it has to offer is primarily by plane, I'm a little hesitant because I don't like flying that much (to be honest, I'm afraid because I really have no control when I'm flying 30,000 feet in the air!). At least when I'm driving a car, I'm somewhat familiar with the road and my hands are on the wheel! But I realize if I never get on the plane, I won't be able to experience what's on the other side and so I'm forced to come to a place where I'm no longer in control and I have to trust God beyond my "comfort zone".
I believe that's how Peter felt when Jesus asked him to" launch out into the deep" and let down his nets to catch fish. Peter had to trust God to do a miracle in a way he had not known before. Peter was familiar with fishing. In fact, he had worked all night and had caught nothing. And even though Peter doubted and hesitated at first, I commend him because Peter eventually obeyed and said, "nevertheless, at thy word, I will let down the net." In other words, Lord, I don't know how this will all turn out, but I'm depending on you! We would do well if we could all learn the lesson: The call to a deeper place is a call to a deeper place of surrender and dependence. As I'm walking with the Lord, I am realizing more and more that God sometimes purposely calls us to do things that are beyond our human ability. He doesn't do that for us to fail but He does it because He wants us to realize our complete and utter need for Him.
I encourage you to take that first step towards whatever God has placed on your heart to do. As you do, He will be right there whispering in your ear, "you can do this!" Why? Because you created to do it! God has placed an eternal purpose on the inside of you and me. As we continue to seek Him, He will give us everything we need to carry it out. So yes, it may be a little scary, but I encourage you to keep going. He will walk with you and beside you every step of the way. I am a living witness. When you trust Him with your life, He will empower you to live it to the fullest. Launch out and let Him do the new thing! Believe me, I'm stepping out of the boat with you! Let's take the plunge and let's do this thing together! Be blessed!
A New Mind for the New You
A New Year always brings with it the excitement and anticipation of what the coming year will bring. Many make resolutions, set goals and are ready to embark on new adventures, leaving the old year with all of its accomplishments and dare I say, even “those things I really meant to do, but didn’t” in the dust. I believe the New Year is also a time when God presents us with opportunities to begin afresh and anew. This past year, in particular was a time of great transition and overhaul for me. On New Year’s Day, my husband asked me what were some of the major things that stood out for me and for the first time, I didn’t think about all the “external” things that happened, although there were some great things that took place. As I thought about it I said, it wasn’t so much the “outside” stuff this year, but it was more about the “inside” stuff that had been taking place in my mind. God was uprooting some old mindsets, ways of thinking and lies that I had always believed about myself. He was pulling up those old, stubborn, hard-to-let-go-of, negative assumptions so that He could make room for the new. To be honest, there were times I wanted to quit in the process because it was such a major battle, but I knew that I had to press through if I was going to be around to see and no longer just wish for the manifestation of God’s promises in my life in 2018.
Recently, I found a page where I wrote in my journal in February 2017:
“Who Am I Really?
Help me not to shrink back. Help me not be intimidated. Help me to see the true great one who lives inside me. Because if the greater one does indeed live inside, then there must be greatness living in me. Lord, when you look at me, what do you see?
As I thought about my own process and struggle to see myself as God sees me, it began physically – learning to appreciate my size, height, etc. And I have truly come a long way in that area, but God is going deeper now to address how I see myself as a person – to really discover who I am in Him and what He’s put inside me – to understand that what I have to offer is worthwhile – it’s valuable. That those lies I’ve always believed about myself are being uprooted. A true alignment must take place between what God sees and says and what I see and say, if I am going to walk in all that God has purposed for my life.”
As I reflect over the past year, I see that God was truly in the “re-alignment business” of my mind. He was in the process of shedding those old thought patterns that did not line up with His truth. Thoughts like, ‘I’m not smart enough. I can’t do that because of this, that and the other. I’m not qualified or good enough for that.’ He was trying to get me to stop rejecting His love, His acceptance and His favor and receive it! He was trying to get me to take His word as my own – to embrace the truth of what He has said over my life. He was in effect trying to eliminate any and everything that would cause me to be separated and not in agreement with His word and His truth. God asked me one time, “Are you and my word one?” He said, because every time you make a decision to put my word first and exalt my word above what you see, feel or think, you are becoming one with that word and you are allowing it to take root in your heart.
I encourage you to let God’s word take root in your heart above every lie you have ever believed. God has a goal in mind for us, but there’s a certain type of person He requires us to be in order to reach that goal. Daniel 11:32 states, “…but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” In other words, as I come to know the awesome power and presence of God that dwells in me, I am strengthened and made capable to fulfill His awesome plan and purpose for my life. He is taking us to a new place and doing new things in our lives and that place will require us to be a different person. I realize now that I could never even step into that new place with my old mind that had been shaped by all kinds of lies and limitations. I can’t go “there” if my mind is still stuck back "here." Like the butterfly, flying in the air is the “place” God has destined for it, but it can’t experience that place by keeping the same old caterpillar body. It must shed the “old” skin to be ready for the “new” place. So as 2019 rolls in, ask God to help you to “shed” that old mind so that you too, can experience the “new” place. It’s time for a NEW MIND to make ready for the NEW YOU!
Be blessed!